Chargers pick up fifth-year option on RB Melvin Gordon

The Chargers are getting ready for the 2018 NFL draft Thursday, but first, they decided to lock in their former 2015 first-round selection in running back Melvin Gordon for two more seasons.

Los Angeles general manager Tom Telesco announced in a pre-draft press conference that they will exercise Gordon’s option through 2019 after the RB finally remained healthy for an entire campaign in 2017. Gordon is set to make $1.9 million in base salary in 2018 and the team’s option for 2019, which would be guaranteed only for injury, would pay him an average of the No. 3 through No. 25 highest salaries among running backs in the NFL. For context, that is currently around $5.6 million.

Gordon seemed to be a waste of a selection after his rookie year that included six fumbles, but he has been more productive over the last two seasons. The former Wisconsin product rushed 254 times for 997 yards in 2016 and amassed 284 carries for 1,105 yards in 2017. Gordon also caught 99 passes and scored 24 total touchdowns over the last two years.

The other surging on the roster, RB Austin Ekeler served as Gordon’s backup for Los Angeles in 2017 and the team could solidify the position by drafting one in a solid running back class.